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Independent Pilot Competition

seriesfest · September 21, 2021 ·

Sponsored by Company 3


SeriesFest’s Independent Pilot Competition was launched in 2015 to help diversify the current television landscape by shining a spotlight on emerging voices and stories. This competition offers independent episodic artists with the unique opportunity to screen their 18-60 minute drama, comedy, unscripted, or animated television pilots in front of an audience of major industry players, network executives, and fans at our annual Denver-based festival. Many SeriesFest Official Selections and winners have gone on to receive representation, development deals, production grants, and distribution.

SUBMISSIONS

Please carefully review the deadlines, material requirements, and guidelines listed below and our FilmFreeway page. Fill out your applications and get your projects in before the final deadline. Have questions? Check out our Submission FAQs or email us at info@seriesfest.com. 

OFFICIAL SELECTIONS

Once submissions are closed, our team of experienced producers, writers, programmers, and filmmakers carefully reviews each application and pilot to narrow it down to a select group of comedies, dramas, and unscripted series representing the highest reviewed submissions in each category. Official Selections to be screened at SeriesFest: Season 9. Official Selections are determined on the basis of the following elements:

  • Originality and creativity
  • Overall quality of all elements & aspects of the production of each entry, including, without limitation, writing, acting, directing, editing, etc.
  • Adherence to and appropriateness for a particular format or type of program
  • The ability to develop story through a first season and thorough drafting of the arc

WINNERS & PRIZES

Official Selections are up for the following awards: 

  • Best Pilot Award for Drama, Comedy, and Unscripted category
  • Best Performance
  • Best Director 
  • Best Writer 
  • Audience Award

Winners will be determined by a jury of high-profile industry and talent during the annual festival and recognized with an award at our Awards Ceremony, included in our media announcement and showcased on our website. Past jurors include Kim Catrall, Nina Dobrev, Laura Fischer (PowderKeg), Dade Hayes (Deadline), Travis Tammero (CAA), Susan Lewis (Starz), Alison Wasserman (HBO), Chaka Pilgrim (Roc Nation). Scroll down to see the complete list of last year’s jurors and winners. Pilots in this competition are also eligible for the Level Forward Impact Award. 

Thanks to our Official Partner Company 3, the Best Unscripted, Best Drama, and Best Comedy winners will be awarded $25,000 of in-kind post-production services to be applied to their episodic project. 

CAZ MATTHEWS FUND

Driven by a mission to champion filmmakers whose projects promote tolerance, acceptance, and inclusivity in the television landscape, The Caz Matthews Fund provides financial contributions to qualifying SeriesFest independent content creators. Each year, SeriesFest curates a short list of projects which have been accepted as official selections for the festival that meet the Caz Matthews Fund requirements. The SeriesFest team then collaborates with Caz to interview and identify creators to receive a one-time financial donation from the Caz Matthews Fund, subject to granting a special credit to SeriesFest, for that particular work.

read more

ADDITIONAL OFFER

Those submitting independent pilots to SeriesFest: Season 9 who are currently entering or in the post-production phase are eligible to receive 15% discount on post-production services with our Official IPC sponsor Company 3. For more information, email sponsorships@company3.com.

KEY DATES & FEES

Earlybird Deadline
NOV 17, 2022
Regular Deadline
JAN 06, 2023
Final Deadline
FEB 15, 2023
Standard$50$70$100
FilmFreeway Gold Member$40$55$85
Student$30$35$45

ENTRY MATERIALS

Produced Pilot
Submitted via FilmFreeway’s Secure Online Screener system. All entries must be between 18 and 60 minutes in length.

Series Format Deck
All submissions must also include a Series Format Deck to be uploaded to the application page under “Files & Attachments.” An effective Series Format Deck introduces your project in a visually exciting and emotionally powerful way. It captures the reader’s imagination, allowing them to see the full scope of the series and embrace the characters.

The Series Format Deck should be no longer than 15 pages and include the following:

  • Log Line
  • Pilot Synopsis
  • Season One Outline
  • Main Character Descriptions (Up to 5)
  • Tone of your series (can include no more than 2 comps)
  • Producing Team
  • Key Creatives
  • Goals for your Series
  • A Creator Statement that includes Why This Idea, Why Me, and Why Now?

Press Kit Material
Any available press kit material.

INCLUSION INITIATIVE WAIVER APPLICATION

SeriesFest, in partnership with the Royal Bank of Canada, is launching a sequence of opportunities to make our festival more accessible for all content creators and to celebrate a commitment to diversity and equity, including a waiver for submissions. Pilots applying for the Independent Pilot, Digital Short Series, Late Night, and Collegiate Spotlight competitions have the opportunity to apply for a submission waiver.

LEARN MORE

Hear why past participants, including some of your favorite TV stars, are calling SeriesFest “one of the premier television festivals in the world.” 


Season 8 Winners

HOW NOT TO BE A JUNKIE

BEST WRITER, DRAMA:
Andrea Metz

    CHIQUI

    BEST DIRECTOR, DRAMA:
    Carlos Cardona
    BEST PERFORMANCE, COMEDY:
    Brigitte Silva

      HACKED

      BEST INTERNATIONAL DRAMA:
      Anthony van Blervllet and Ruben Vandenborre

        A Black woman looks off into the distance. She has on a red sweatshirt, and her hair in a low bun. The camera is at a low angle looking up, and the ceiling is dark blue and industrial, like a garage, with a bright strip of light cutting diagonally across the right 2/3rds of the screen.

        AWAYY

        BEST DRAMA:
        Aqsa Altaf and John X. Carey

          5150

          AUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST DRAMA:
          Denzel Whitaker

          Sponsored by J.P. Morgan Private Bank

            MUSLIM GIRLS: DTF

            BEST WRITERS, COMEDY:
            Alzzah Fatima, Atheer Yacoub, Negn Farsad, Rokhsane Zadeh, Zainab Johnson

              CAMP GREENWOOD

              BEST DIRECTOR, COMEDY:
              Kourtney Bell
              BEST PERFORMANCE, COMEDY:
              Melanie Mahanna

                TASTELESS

                BEST INTERNATIONAL COMEDY:
                Amnon Carmi

                  MT. MYSTIC RANGERS

                  BEST COMEDY AND AUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST COMEDY:
                  Jeremiah Dunlap

                  Sponsored by J.P. Morgan Private Bank

                    CYCLES

                    BEST UNSCRIPTED AND AUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST UNSCRIPTED:
                    Mari Kussman and Mitchell Hart

                    Sponsored by J.P. Morgan Private Bank

                      QUITTING TIME

                      BEST DIRECTOR, UNSCRIPTED:
                      Cameron Yates

                        Season 8 Jury

                        Jim O'Heir is a white man with gray and white hair. He has a big smile, large cheeks, and a stripped collared shirt with a dark gray jacket over it. The picture is a circle, and the background of the headshot is dark green.

                        Jim O’Heir

                        Actor

                          Angie Han is an Asian person with short black hair, buzzed on one side. Angie has a big smile and a blue and white stripped collared shirt, and is standing inside of what looks like a living room, taking a selfie. The image is a circle on this section of the website.

                          Angie Han

                          TV Critic, The Hollywood Reporter

                            Alec Ring is a white man posing for a professional headshot in front of a brick wall and a window. He has a big smile, a mustache, short brown hair, and a dark blue button up collared shirt.

                            Alec Ring

                            Manager, Cinetic Media

                              Mikael Moore is a Black man, and this is a black and white portrait. He has on a black hat and large rectangular tortoise glasses, a black long sleeve shirt, and a dog tag. He has some facial hair, and is smiling in the photo.

                              Mikael Moore

                              Managing Partner, Wondaland

                                C. Brett Marottoli is a woman with long straight brown hair. She has on makeup and a smile, and is posing for a professional headshot. The background of the image is a light blue.

                                C. Brett Marottoli

                                Head of Program Acquisitions, Starz

                                  Liam Matthews is a white man with facial hair, and shoulder length wavy dark brown hair. He has on black glasses and long eyelashes. He is standing in front of a brick wall, and has on a collared plaid colorful shirt.

                                  Liam Matthews

                                  Writer, TV Guide

                                    Patrick Macmanus

                                    Showrunner of Dr. Death, Co-Showrunner The Girl from Plainville

                                      Travis Tammero is a brown man with light facial hair. He has gelled back dark hair and a black suit with a white collared shirt and black tie on. He's posing for a professional headshot in front of a gray background.

                                      Travis Tammero

                                      Independent Film Group Agent, UTA

                                        Britta Erickson is a white woman with short curled and highlighted brown hair smirks at the camera. She has her makeup done, a white shirt, and leather jacket on. There are blurry lights in the background of the headshot.

                                        Britta Erickson

                                        Producer, Listen Productions

                                          Stephanie Rance

                                          Deputy Director, Youth on Records


                                            Sponsored by Company 3

                                            Company 3 is Global post-production focusing on color grading, in-house and location dailies, editorial suites, visual effects, and online editorial services for feature film, episodic television, and commercial work. Known for its creative color artistry, pioneering technology, and global reach, Company 3 is trusted to consistently deliver a high caliber of work.


                                            Need more information? Questions?

                                            VIEW SUBMISSION FAQS
                                            EMAIL SERIESFEST

                                            Internal, Pilot Competitions, Submissions Standard

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